September 12

This week was pretty tiring, but I also saw a lot of tender mercies. 

My companion and I flew to Cochabamba Wednesday for Leadership Council, which is always very spiritual. My President spoke a lot about the pride, which pretty much hit the nail on the head for me haha (is that an expression? I can't remember now). When we got back we went to help look for a house for 2 more hermanas that are coming to our zone, which took longer than we expected, so we didn't have a whole lot of time to work in our area. 

My companion and I were a little stressed about the people we hadn't been able to visit, but I know they'll be alright. For example, there is one family that we found last week, and they are so prepared. Last night we had an appointment, and the mother told us that for the past few months she has had a lot of religious doubts, and that she felt that what we had taught was helping her answer them. The family accepted a baptismal date, and I know that they will each receive and answer to their prayers because they are very sincere.

We also have another woman that we teach, and recently her 12 year old grandson has been joining us in the lessons, but, to be honest, I think we were putting a little more emphasis on the grandma than on him. 

When we asked her if she had prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true, she short of shrugged it off and told us that she hadn't been able to. However, her grandson looked at us and gave a firm yes. A little surprised, I asked him how he felt when he had prayed, and he told me, "Clean. Very pure." I was touched by his sincerity and reminded of the promise that every person with real intention can and will receive an answer to their prayers. I love you guys!!

Hermana Rupp

My comp and I called our pensionista Saturday and told her we wouldn't make it to lunch, just so we could go see the parade thay had over the weekend. This computer won't let me send the videos I took of the dances, which is a real bummer because they're pretty cool. My comp and I were literally right next to them. But, I guess you can seem them in 5 months haha

Heyooo.

This was a solid week. Well, we have to postpone our baptism planned for this week so our investigator's children can come, which was disappointing, but she'll be baptized soon so I guess that's the most important. 

We were on our way to an appointment, and we passed by a football field where they were just finishing up a tournament. They were in the middle of the award ceremony and there was a group of people, so we stopped to take a look. And the prize they were giving out was awesome haha. They gave a sheep to the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place teams, and to the champions, they gave a bull. A BULL. What the heck are a group of teenagers gonna do with a bull haha? Sell it, I suppose because I doubt they know how to do anything else with it. My comp and I were cracking up. 

This past weekend and the next one there is also a festival for the virgen Guadalupe. Friday and Saturday area gonna be crazy because everyone is going to be dancing in the parade for her, or watching. And drinking. Should be interesting. They started a little bit yesterday so my comp and I took some pictures as we passed by. Their dances are pretty cool.

I hope you have an awesome week. I love you!!

Hna. Rupp

My comp and I were messing around with some headphones we have in our house haha. DJ RUPP

The picture of the little boy with his bike is probably one of my favorite pictures I've taken here. 

August 29

Hey!!

This was a great week. Our investigator was baptized!! She wasn't very sure about her baptismal date at first, but the week beforehand her attitude changed completely. She's had a rough past and now lives her with her aunt and uncle, and I love seeing the change in her.

I also had my interview with President Hansen, which is always great. I also feel even more motivated to work hard after speaking with him.

Other than that, we just worked and worked. My companion and I have a lot of fun, especially when we're contacting, because people just say the funniest stuff. There's one cholita whos was on her way to the chichería to drink the night away, but I think we talked her out of it haha.

Sometimes, however, it makes me a little sad. When we speak with someone in the street, it could be the first, and last, time that they hear of the gospel. And I've come to realize that it is not something that I should take lightly. I think my companion and I are improving in being very direct with our contacts, and bearing testimony whenever we can.

I'm not sure what it is about time in the internet cafe, but I always have a lot to say, and the moment I start to write I seem to forget all of it haha. Sorry 'bout it. This was my best attempt at a detailed, heartfelt, and spiritual letter :)

I love you guys! Have a great week!

Hermana Rupp

August 22

Family!

This week I have learned to rely even more on the Spirit. There were multiple lessons in which we started and I didn't really know what to say. However, as I began to pray for the company of the Holy Ghost- and I'm sure my companion was doing same- they ended up being very powerful. I think that one of the most rewarding parts of the mission is that the Lord allows you to feel some of the love that he feels towards each one of His children. It will be my goal to feel that same love for others when I return home.

I'm sort of drawing a blank on all that has happened this week (but don't worry, we worked hard), so I'll share something that has been on my mind a lot recently :) 

I have been studying humility this week, and the thought came to me that it's only a matter of comparison. Pride comes from comparing yourself with others and taking pleasure in the fact that you doing something better than them (at least from your perspective), whereas humility is comparing yourself with you Savior and Redeemer, and realizing that you have a long way to go. Now, I'm not saying that to be humble is to have low self esteem because you can not ever arrive to the perfection that is Jesus Christ, but rather realizing that this should be your goal, and that you depend on the Lord completely in order to achieve it. And when you recognize and remember this dependence, you then grow in a way you never could have otherwise.

Thanks for everything, and I love you a lot!

Hna. Rupp

P.S. I did not take one photo this week, so van a discuplar. And even if I had, I'm not sure I'd send them haha, because I shower, put my hair in a bun, and start to study. There's no time in the mission to worry what you look like :)

Hey!!
This was a good week. We flew to Cochabamba on Tuesday for leadership and got back Wednesday night. We were therefore a little short on time this week, but we did all that we could. We have so many people right now that are extremely close to baptism, and they just need a little push to make it. I have a lot of hope for these upcoming weeks.
I really like my companion, Hna. Rosillo. I think the only problem we have is that we sometimes stay up to late because we just keep talking haha. She's a hard worker.
This week we found a great new family, and at the end of the lesson they invited us to some tea or coffee. She had the hot water served and everything and we just had to put in the mix. We were running late to a lesson, so rather than take the time to explain to them the Word of Wisdom, we just chugged hot water haha. I think the mother noticed so it was probably better that we explained it well and showed up late to the next lesson, but we didn't really think it through that well... for the next lesson haha.
I'm kind of drawing a blank when it comes to what else happened this week, but we worked hard and I really love this area.
Anyway, sounds like you guys had a great week.  I love you guys!
Hna. Rupp

Hey!!
My new companion is Hna. Rosillo from Peru, and she's really cool. I like her a lot. When we recieved our transfers Sunday night, I was nervous because my old comp is an extremely hard worker, and I felt that the area wouldn't do as well without her. It's also a big area, and I didn't think I I knew it well enough. But, with every tansfer, I come to realize even more that the work is the same. If you work hard and trust that the Lord knows what He is doing, it all works out well. This was easily the least stressfull transfer I have had thus far, and our area is doing very well, which makes me very grateful-
Also, C got baptized!! She's almost 78, only speaks Quechua (but generally understands Spanish), can barely walk, and she's awesome. When we ended our first lesson with her last month, I thought my companion was a little crazy to be talking about her baptism. But, I have learned that neither age, health problems, nor even a language barrier can prevent prepared people from finding the truth. Her daughter and her family are members of our ward, but C never was interested beforehand. But, she has been so excited for her baptism, and she took it like a champ. Her son-in-law and the 2 Elders from our ward all had to help in the baptismal font, but overall it went really well, and was a very beautiful service. Her grandson and another little from our ward were baptized as well.
Today we went to explore a little town outside of the city called Yotala. Supposedly there's a really beautiful river close by, but when we got there, it was literally just a little stream haha. We went with some of the other sisters in our zone, and I think some of them were a little disappointed when we got there, but I thought  it was cool to explore and see a little more of a town I never would have seen otherwise.
Overall, it was a great week and I'm excited for this transfer! I hope you have an awesome week!
Love you all!
Hermana Rupp

Hey!!
This wasn't our best week, but it was still good. 2 of our investigators were supposed to be baptized, but now it's looking like they'll be baptized not this week, but the next. At least that's what we're praying for...
I also ate something that made me sick, and spent almost all of Friday night in the bathroom, throwing up. But, the good news is that I got it out of my system- I got everything out of my system haha- and by that morning I felt better and was able to work like normal.
In our area, I also feel like we give a lot of marriage advice, which is ironic because obviously neither my companion and I know what it's like to be married haha. Some of the families we visit aren't doing so well, and it's depressing. However, I'm grateful for my good ol' mom and pop and their examples ;) I've used you two and shared what I've seen in your relationship to help out investigators.
Also, we have transfers! Well, my companino does. I'm actually surprised that we won't have two transfers together, and a little nervous haha. I will now be with Hermana Rosillo, who is also from Peru and will arive tommorrow. She was in the CCM with me, so I kind of know her, but not a whole lot. She seems cool though.
Anyway, I'm doing well, and I'm glad to hear that things are good at home as well. Have an awesome week, and thanks for everything. I love you guys!
Hermana Rupp

We found a woman and her children hauling (is that spelled right?) a pile of rocks up the hill, and we helped them out and took some pictures. She was pushing, and her five kids were pulling. We ended up laughing a ton while helping.